Director of Youth and Engagement

AGENCY DESCRIPTION:

AncoraTN (ATN), formerly End Slavery Tennessee, works tirelessly to nurture survivor healing and strategically combat human trafficking in Middle Tennessee. We seek to break cycles of exploitation and support survivors of human trafficking as they heal from their traumas offering long-term, comprehensive aftercare services. Through training communities and professionals, advocating for legal changes, and implementing prevention programming, AncoraTN works to stop human trafficking before it ever begins. AncoraTN was founded in 2012 as a faith-based, not-for-profit organization for the purpose of community awareness and education. We strive to create an environment of faith and spirituality to restore hope and a lifetime of community. We are an agency committed to trauma-informed principles and seek to promote an environment focused around a diverse and inclusive team all working towards the mission and vision of the organization.

REPORTS TO: Chief Operations Officer

POSITION SUMMARY: The Director of Youth & Engagement provides strategic leadership and oversight for AncoraTN’s youth services, clinical services, and community engagement initiatives. This role ensures programs are trauma-informed, survivor-centered, and aligned with the organization’s mission, strategic priorities, and grant requirements. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Director is responsible for supervising program managers, strengthening program systems, ensuring quality service delivery, and expanding community education and engagement efforts. The Director works collaboratively across internal departments and with community partners to ensure services for survivors and participants are coordinated, effective, and responsive to emerging trends in human trafficking prevention, intervention, and survivor support. This position plays a critical role in strengthening AncoraTN’s impact by guiding program strategy, supporting staff leadership, and advancing community awareness and collaboration.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Perform all duties and demonstrate behaviors and attitudes consistent with the Mission, Vision, and Values of AncoraTN.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships through effective communication, performance improvement, and teamwork efforts.
• Implement policies and procedures to ensure a strengthbased/traumainformed culture.
• Accomplish individual and team goals and objectives established by supervisor based on prior performance evaluation.
• Comply with HIPAA guidelines regarding client rights and confidentiality.
• Comply with documentation and training set forth by policy requirements.
• In collaboration with the executive team, play a key role in the overall development, strategic planning, service delivery, and management of the organization.
• Supervise and support the Clinical Manager, Youth Manager, and Community Engagement Manager to support and develop the provision of Aftercare, Prevention, Training and Community Engagement.
• Evaluate the needs for the delivery of services, recruitment, interviewing and hiring to fulfill program needs; staff assignments; completion of performance appraisals and managing employee relations.
• Create a presence that encourages teamwork and unity among staff and demonstrates ATN core values.
• Represent ATN at the local, state, and national level through training and/or networking opportunities.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with staff and supervisors, as well as external community partners.

INTERNAL CLINICAL LEADERSHIP:

• Spearhead agencywide traumainformed clinical initiatives to identify opportunities for improving outcomes enhancing service provision.
• Foster traumainformed care and strengthbased philosophy and strategies.
• Model service delivery through interactions with survivors of trauma.
• Assist with regular review and updates to agencywide and programspecific policies and procedures.
• Assist with grant reporting, data documentation, and ethical storytelling.
• Provides support to Staff when responding to clinical emergencies.
• Oversee HIPPA compliance and code of ethics with Clinical Manger.

INTERNAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP:

• Provide supervision and leadership to the Youth Services Manager.
• Assist with grant reporting and data as it relates to Youth caseload.
• Collaborate with the Youth Services Manager to enhance and expand youth programming, prevention initiatives, and aftercare services.
• Oversee partnerships with schools, child welfare agencies, juvenile justice partners, and community organizations serving youth.
• Maintain quality assurance processes to ensure services meet organizational and ethical standards.
• Lead and partner with agencies on MultiDisciplinary Team (MTD) meetings for youth.

INTERNAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LEADERSHIP:

• Provide direction and leadership for community engagement strategies including outreach, training, and public awareness.
• Provide direction and feedback for team initiatives such as podcast and Speaker’s Bureau.
• Ensure trauma informed lens and alignment on all external community initiatives and trainings to ensure ethical storytelling.
• Provide guidance and leadership for Community Engagement Manager.
• Support the Marketing and Development team with training and engagnement events.

The Director of Youth and Engagement will plan and carry out assignments with little supervision and report regularly to the Chief Operations Officer, including discussion of work progress and/or new problems requiring executive involvement. The work of aftercare is diverse and complex, including a broad range of activities and frequently changing conditions, situations, and problems. The Director of Youth and Engagement must be able to analyze problems and make prudent decisions while interpreting a variety of factors, problems, and alternative methods and procedures.

All positions at AncoraTN interact with survivors of human trafficking from day to day. This issue is sensitive and complex. Every employee is trained in trauma-informed and strength-based approaches in order to connect with and build appropriate and encouraging relationships with survivors. We strive to create a completely judgement free work environment. Empathy, compassion, and the ability to deal with difficult situations is a must for anyone who works at AncoraTN.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Work is carried out primarily in an office setting with intermittent sitting, standing, walking, and some light physical activity. Most work is performed while sitting and using the computer, phone, and engaged in face-to-face conversation with staff and/or clients. Some car travel and use of personal vehicle is required. This position is a hybrid position with a minimum of 4 days reporting into the office and working with the Director of Adult Services to ensure there is coverage in office daily.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND SKILLS:

• Master’s Degree in Social work, Counseling/Mental Health, Criminal Justice, Psychology, Public Health, Sociology, Nonprofit Management or related field preferred. Bachelor’s degree required.
• 35 years of field experience.
• 5 years of experience working with vulnerable and underserved populations.
• 2 years of supervisory experience preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to understand and articulate best practices around traumainformed care and strengthbased leadership.
• Moderate level computer skills, including word processing and spreadsheets.
• Peopleoriented with demonstrated ability to build rapport and gain trust with diverse populations.
• Ability and willingness to work irregular hours when survivors need to dictate.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills, both written and oral, and prompt response to messages.
• Able to maintain confidentiality, as required by law and in the best interests of survivors.
• Valid driver’s license, staterequired driver’s insurance, and access to reliable personal transportation; ability to travel throughout Middle Tennessee.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

1. Initial and subsequent random drug screening is required as per agency policy.

2. A background check is required.

3. Must be willing and able to embrace and exemplify our core values.

JOB TYPE:

Full-time, typically Monday-Friday 8am-4pm (willing to work some evening and weekend hours, as needed). Some travel may be required.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

Base Salary: $68,000 – $78,000

Benefits:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance. Eligible after 30 days of employment. (100% employer paid plan options).
• $150.00/ month for therapy reimbursement.
• 120 hours PTO accrued 10 hours/month. Eligible after 30 days of employment.
• 96 hours of sick leave accrued 4 hours/pay period. Eligible after 30 days of employment.
• 13 paid holidays
• 4 floating holidays. Eligible after 30 days of employment, then annually.
• Short term disability, Long term disability, AD&D and Life insurance (100% employer paid plan options).
• Employer 403b match up to 1% of salary based on employee contributions and dependent on annual board vote. Eligible after 6 months of employment.

HOW TO APPLY: To apply for this job, you will submit your application directly through our online portal at https://jobs.appone.com/AncoraTN. No phone calls are accepted for this position.

• AncoraTN recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, and pregnancy), age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected status as required by applicable law.

About AncoraTN

AncoraTN works tirelessly to nurture survivor healing and strategically combat human trafficking in Middle Tennessee. We seek to break cycles of exploitation and support survivors of human trafficking as they heal from their traumas—offering long-term, comprehensive aftercare services. Through educating communities and professionals, advocating for legal changes, and implementing prevention programming, AncoraTN works to stop human trafficking before it ever begins.